Arrested Development (hip hop group)
Encyclopedia
Arrested Development is an American
alternative hip hop
group
, founded by Speech
and Headliner as a positive, Afrocentric alternative to the gangsta rap
popular in the early 1990s.
, when Chrysalis Records
sent A&R
director Duff Marlowe to Atlanta's Bosstown Studios to meet with the group's manager Michael Mauldin. Arrested Development had already been offered a single deal for the song "Tennessee
," hence the name of the first album, 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of...
, which produced several hit tracks. These included "Tennessee
", "People Everyday
", and "Mr. Wendal
," all of which hit the Top Ten
of the Billboard Hot 100
.
The group won two Grammy Award
s in 1993 for Best New Artist
and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group
, and were also named Band of the Year by Rolling Stone
magazine
. 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of...
was the number-one album in the Village Voice's 1992 Pazz and Jop Critic's Poll.
A few months later, the group was approached by film director
Spike Lee
, to compose a song
for his upcoming biopic
based on the life of Malcolm X
. The group then recorded "Revolution," which appeared on the oldies-dominated soundtrack
for the film, as well as the second half of its closing credits when the film was released in 1992.
Their 1994 follow-up Zingalamaduni, which did well with some critics, but was panned by others, sold poorly. After the group broke up due to "creative differences" in 1996, Speech released a solo album; sales were poor in the United States but better in Japan
. The group reunited in 2000 (without Headliner and Earle Taree) and has been touring and releasing records via Speech's Vagabond Productions and Speech Music. While Arrested Development has struggled to regain a following in the United States, they have met consistent success in Japan.
The female vocalist on "Tennessee", Dionne Farris
, released a successful solo album in 1994, Wild Seed-Wild Flower. The album spawned the hit single "I Know."
Baba Oje is the group's spiritual elder. He and Speech met at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee when they were both students. Baba Oje was 57 years old at the time.
In November 2003, the group sued the Fox network over the name of the TV show Arrested Development. The suit is referenced in the Arrested Development episodes "Public Relations
", "Motherboy XXX
" and "For British Eyes Only
".
In June 2005, the group won the first round of NBC
's television series contest Hit Me Baby One More Time
, performing "Tennessee" and covering Los Lonely Boys
' "Heaven." They gave the proceeds ($20,000) to UNICEF.
The group's follow-up to their 2004 Among The Trees, was Since The Last Time, released internationally (not in the U.S.) on September 18, 2006. Since The Last Time was later released in the United States on October 30, 2007, on Vagabond Record & Tapes, Speech's boutique label.
In March 2007, they toured Australia
as part of a triple-bill, along with Simple Minds
and INXS
.
On January 8, 2011, they performed in the festival first night for the Sydney Festival
in Sydney
, Australia.
The group released their ninth album Strong under Vagabond Records and Tapes, and licensed to the Japanese record label Cutting Edge, on December 9, 2009, and had a top ten hit with the single "The World is Changing" in Japan. In an interview with Songfacts, Speech explained that the track "Greener" takes on the issue of climate change from the perspective of the African American community.
| first= David
| last= Roberts
| year= 2006
| title= British Hit Singles & Albums
| edition= 19th
| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
| location= London
| isbn= 1-904994-10-5
| page= 30}}
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
alternative hip hop
Alternative hip hop
Alternative hip hop is a sub-genre of hip hop music. Allmusic defines it as follows: -Origin:...
group
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
, founded by Speech
Speech (rapper)
Todd Thomas , better known by the stage name Speech, is an American rapper and musician. He is a member of the progressive hip hop group Arrested Development and has released a number of solo albums.-Background:...
and Headliner as a positive, Afrocentric alternative to the gangsta rap
Gangsta rap
Gangsta Rap is a subgenre of hip hop music that evolved from hardcore hip hop and purports to reflect urban crime and the violent lifestyles of inner-city youths. Lyrics in gangsta rap have varied from accurate reflections to fictionalized accounts. Gangsta is a non-rhotic pronunciation of the word...
popular in the early 1990s.
History
It took the group three years, five months and two days to be offered a recording contractRecording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
, when Chrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records was a British record label that was created in 1969. The name was both a reference to the pupal stage of a butterfly and a combination of its founders names, Chris Wright and Terry Ellis...
sent A&R
A&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
director Duff Marlowe to Atlanta's Bosstown Studios to meet with the group's manager Michael Mauldin. Arrested Development had already been offered a single deal for the song "Tennessee
Tennessee (Arrested Development song)
"Tennessee" is the title of a number-one R&B single by alternative hip hop group, Arrested Development, from their album 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of.... The song contains a sample of Prince's "Alphabet St.". The music video for the song was directed by Milčo Mančevski and shot in...
," hence the name of the first album, 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of...
3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of...
3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of... is the debut album by American hip hop group Arrested Development, released in 1992 . The album's chart success was the beginning of the popularization of Southern hip hop. 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of... stood in stark contrast to the...
, which produced several hit tracks. These included "Tennessee
Tennessee (Arrested Development song)
"Tennessee" is the title of a number-one R&B single by alternative hip hop group, Arrested Development, from their album 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of.... The song contains a sample of Prince's "Alphabet St.". The music video for the song was directed by Milčo Mančevski and shot in...
", "People Everyday
People Everyday
"People Everyday" is the first hit single for rap/hip-hop group Arrested Development. It was released in 1992, taken from their critically acclaimed album 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of.......
", and "Mr. Wendal
Mr. Wendal
"Mr. Wendal" is a single released by influential rap group Arrested Development in 1992, from their most commercially successful album, 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of.......
," all of which hit the Top Ten
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
of the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
The group won two Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
s in 1993 for Best New Artist
Grammy Award for Best New Artist
The Grammy Award for Best New Artist has been awarded since 1959. Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were handed out, for records released in the previous year. The award was not presented in 1967...
and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
, and were also named Band of the Year by Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
. 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of...
3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of...
3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of... is the debut album by American hip hop group Arrested Development, released in 1992 . The album's chart success was the beginning of the popularization of Southern hip hop. 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of... stood in stark contrast to the...
was the number-one album in the Village Voice's 1992 Pazz and Jop Critic's Poll.
A few months later, the group was approached by film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
Spike Lee
Spike Lee
Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee is an American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, has produced over 35 films since 1983....
, to compose a song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
for his upcoming biopic
Malcolm X (film)
Malcolm X is a 1992 biographical motion picture about the Muslim-American figure Malcolm X . It was co-written, co-produced, and directed by Spike Lee. It stars Denzel Washington as the titular character. It co-stars Angela Bassett, Albert Hall, Al Freeman, Jr., and Delroy Lindo...
based on the life of Malcolm X
Malcolm X
Malcolm X , born Malcolm Little and also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz , was an African American Muslim minister and human rights activist. To his admirers he was a courageous advocate for the rights of African Americans, a man who indicted white America in the harshest terms for its...
. The group then recorded "Revolution," which appeared on the oldies-dominated soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
for the film, as well as the second half of its closing credits when the film was released in 1992.
Their 1994 follow-up Zingalamaduni, which did well with some critics, but was panned by others, sold poorly. After the group broke up due to "creative differences" in 1996, Speech released a solo album; sales were poor in the United States but better in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The group reunited in 2000 (without Headliner and Earle Taree) and has been touring and releasing records via Speech's Vagabond Productions and Speech Music. While Arrested Development has struggled to regain a following in the United States, they have met consistent success in Japan.
The female vocalist on "Tennessee", Dionne Farris
Dionne Farris
Dionne Farris is an American female R&B/soul musician who sang on three songs with the hip hop group Arrested Development...
, released a successful solo album in 1994, Wild Seed-Wild Flower. The album spawned the hit single "I Know."
Baba Oje is the group's spiritual elder. He and Speech met at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee when they were both students. Baba Oje was 57 years old at the time.
In November 2003, the group sued the Fox network over the name of the TV show Arrested Development. The suit is referenced in the Arrested Development episodes "Public Relations
Public Relations (Arrested Development episode)
"Public Relations" is the eleventh episode aired of the TV comedy series Arrested Development.-Plot:Michael takes his son for an interview at the prestigious Milford School, an institution famous for its credo that children should be neither seen nor heard...
", "Motherboy XXX
Motherboy XXX
"Motherboy XXX" is the thirty-fifth episode aired of TV comedy series Arrested Development.-Plot:"Michael Bluth got up early in the hopes of avoiding his family. His mother, however, was already dressed, made up and waiting for him...
" and "For British Eyes Only
For British Eyes Only
"For British Eyes Only" is the 42nd episode aired of the TV comedy series Arrested Development.-Synopsis:Michael Bluth and George Michael Bluth are having a last chance camp-out in the cabin before it is due to be moved. While they are sleeping, a returning George Sr. drives the cabin away for use...
".
In June 2005, the group won the first round of NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's television series contest Hit Me Baby One More Time
Hit Me Baby One More Time
Hit Me, Baby, One More Time was a 2005 reality show first aired by ITV on British television and later, as a new version, by NBC in the United States; both were presented by Vernon Kay. During each programme, five former pop stars sing their biggest hit along with a cover version of a contemporary...
, performing "Tennessee" and covering Los Lonely Boys
Los Lonely Boys
Los Lonely Boys is a Chicano rock power trio from San Angelo, Texas. They play a style of music they call "Texican Rock n' Roll," combining elements of rock and roll, Texas blues, brown eyed soul, country, and Tejano....
' "Heaven." They gave the proceeds ($20,000) to UNICEF.
The group's follow-up to their 2004 Among The Trees, was Since The Last Time, released internationally (not in the U.S.) on September 18, 2006. Since The Last Time was later released in the United States on October 30, 2007, on Vagabond Record & Tapes, Speech's boutique label.
In March 2007, they toured Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
as part of a triple-bill, along with Simple Minds
Simple Minds
Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band who achieved worldwide popularity from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The band produced a handful of critically acclaimed albums in the early 1980s and best known for their #1 US, Canada and Netherlands hit single "Don't You ", from the soundtrack of the...
and INXS
INXS
INXS are an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. Mainstays are Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar, Andrew Farriss on guitar/keyboards, Jon Farriss on drums, Tim Farriss on lead guitar and Kirk Pengilly on guitar/sax...
.
On January 8, 2011, they performed in the festival first night for the Sydney Festival
Sydney Festival
Sydney Festival is Australia's largest and most attended annual cultural event running every January since it was first held in 1977. Its program features around 80 events including contemporary and classical music, dance, circus, drama, visual arts and artist talks...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia.
The group released their ninth album Strong under Vagabond Records and Tapes, and licensed to the Japanese record label Cutting Edge, on December 9, 2009, and had a top ten hit with the single "The World is Changing" in Japan. In an interview with Songfacts, Speech explained that the track "Greener" takes on the issue of climate change from the perspective of the African American community.
Albums
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certification Certification Certification refers to the confirmation of certain characteristics of an object, person, or organization. This confirmation is often, but not always, provided by some form of external review, education, assessment, or audit... |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK Single Chart |
US Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US R&B Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
|||
| 1992 | 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of... 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of... 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of... is the debut album by American hip hop group Arrested Development, released in 1992 . The album's chart success was the beginning of the popularization of Southern hip hop. 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of... stood in stark contrast to the...
|
3 | 7 | 3 |
British Phonographic Industry The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies... : Platinum |
| 1993 | Unplugged Unplugged (Arrested Development album) Unplugged is a live album by American hip hop group Arrested Development. Performing live at the Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York City on December 17, 1992, their performance was recorded for the MTV Unplugged television series.- Track listing:... Chrysalis Records Chrysalis Records was a British record label that was created in 1969. The name was both a reference to the pupal stage of a butterfly and a combination of its founders names, Chris Wright and Terry Ellis... |
40 | 60 | 38 |
|
| 1994 | Zingalamaduni Zingalamaduni Zingalamaduni is the second album by American hip hop group Arrested Development, released in 1994 . It spawned three singles... Chrysalis Records Chrysalis Records was a British record label that was created in 1969. The name was both a reference to the pupal stage of a butterfly and a combination of its founders names, Chris Wright and Terry Ellis... |
16 | 55 | 20 |
British Phonographic Industry The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies... : Silver |
| 2000 | Da Feelin' EP
EMI The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major... |
- | - | - | |
| 2002 | Heroes of the Harvest
|
- | - | - | |
| 2003 | Extended Revolution
|
- | - | - | |
| 2004 | Among The Trees
|
- | - | - | |
| 2006 | Since The Last Time
|
- | - | - | |
| 2010 | Strong Strong (Arrested Development album) -Tracklist :... |
- | - | - | |
Speech solo
- 1996: SpeechSpeechSpeech is the human faculty of speaking.It may also refer to:* Public speaking, the process of speaking to a group of people* Manner of articulation, how the body parts involved in making speech are manipulated...
(Chrysalis) - 1999: HooplaSpeech (rapper)Todd Thomas , better known by the stage name Speech, is an American rapper and musician. He is a member of the progressive hip hop group Arrested Development and has released a number of solo albums.-Background:...
(TVTTVT RecordsTVT Records was an independent US record label founded by Steve Gottlieb. Over the course of its 25 year history the label released some 25 Gold, Platinum and Multi-platinum releases. Its roster included Nine Inch Nails, Ja Rule, Lil Jon, Underworld, The KLF, Sevendust, Brian Jonestown Massacre and...
) - 2000: Spiritual People (Toshiba EMI)
- 2002: Down South Produckshuns (Toshiba EMI)
- 2003: Peechy (Toshiba EMI)
- 2005: The VagabondThe VagabondThe Vagabond is a silent film by Charlie Chaplin and his third film with Mutual Films. Released to theaters on July 10, 1916, it co-starred Edna Purviance, Eric Campbell, Leo White and Lloyd Bacon...
(Bluhammock) - 2009: The Grown Folks Table (Vagabond Records and Tapes)
Singles
- 1992: "TennesseeTennessee (Arrested Development song)"Tennessee" is the title of a number-one R&B single by alternative hip hop group, Arrested Development, from their album 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of.... The song contains a sample of Prince's "Alphabet St.". The music video for the song was directed by Milčo Mančevski and shot in...
" - US Pop #6, US R&B #1, US Rap #1, UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#46 - 1992: "People EverydayPeople Everyday"People Everyday" is the first hit single for rap/hip-hop group Arrested Development. It was released in 1992, taken from their critically acclaimed album 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of.......
" - US Pop #8, US R&B #2, US Rap #1, UK #2 - 1992: "Mr. WendalMr. Wendal"Mr. Wendal" is a single released by influential rap group Arrested Development in 1992, from their most commercially successful album, 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of.......
" - US Pop #6, US R&B #6, UK #4 - 1992: "Raining Revolution" - US R&B #49
- 1992: "Revolution" - US Pop #90, US Rap #20
- 1993: "Natural" - US R&B #90
- 1993: "Mama's Always On Stage"
- 1994: "United Front" - US R&B #66, US Rap #49
- 1994: "Ease My Mind" - US Pop #45, US R&B #14, US Rap #4, UK #33
- 1994: "Africa's Inside Me"
- 2000: "If Dey Ask"
- 2000: "Hit The Road Jack"
- 2004: "Honeymoon Day"
- 2006: "Down & Dirty (Clap Your Hands)"
- 2006: "Miracles"
- 2010: "The World Is Changing" - Japan Pop #9
- 2011: "Living"
| first= David
| last= Roberts
| year= 2006
| title= British Hit Singles & Albums
| edition= 19th
| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
| location= London
| isbn= 1-904994-10-5
| page= 30}}
See also
- List of number-one R&B hits (United States)
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart
External links
- Official website of Arrested Development in the USA of Arrested Development in Japan
- Official website of Speech
- Radio Interview. Dec 2006 - 3SYN 90.7FM Melbourne, AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
- Arrested Development video interview at allaboutjazz.com